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Holi

Like Diwali, which is aslo called as a festival of lights, Holi is also called as a festival of colours. It is celebrated on Phalgun Purnima which comes at the end of February or early in March. Holi has an ancient origin and celebrates the triumph of 'good' over 'bad' or the coming of Spring, usually in March. The colourful festival bridges the social gap and renews sweet relationships. On this day, people hug and wish each other 'Happy Holi'. Holi is an ancient festival of India and was originally known as 'Holika'. The festival finds a detailed description in early religious works such as Jaimini's Purvamimamsa-Sutras and Kathaka-Grhya-Sutras. Historians also believe that Holi was celebrated by all Aryans but more so in the Eastern part of India. Through time the meaning of the festival is believed to have changed. Earlier it was a special rite performed by married women for the happiness and well-being of their families and the full moon (Raka) was worshiped, but now for many Holi is more a time for fun than religious observance. Holi is a colourful festival, with dancing, singing, and throwing of powder paint and coloured water. Bonfires are lit and roasting grains, pop corn, coconut and chick peas are thrown on by Hindu families. The next day, people of all ages go into the streets for fun and paint-throwing. Everyone gets involved - with no distinctions between caste, class, age or gender. Hindus have fun by smearing each other with paint and throwing coloured water at each other, all done in a spirit of celebration. Holi is a very carefree festival that is a great fun to participate in if you don't mind getting wet and dirty. You'll end up saturated in water, with colour all over your skin and clothes.

Play holi wearing old and ragged clothes that can be discarded immediately after the occasion. Wear white or light-colour clothes as the colours of Holi are best showcased in white.

Wear full-sleeved t-shirts or shirts and leggings that cover your legs fully, so that your sensitive body parts are not exposed to the harmful chemicals of the colors of Holi. Wearing socks on the occasion is a good idea too.

Since it is almost impossible to save your face from attack of holi's colors, so while being attacked, keep your eyes and lips tightly closed.

Apply a thick layer of coconut or any oil on your body and hair until they glisten and you become slippery. The oily coat would protect you from the immediate effect of harmful chemicals of the colors of Holi. This will not only help in escaping from the frenzied mob attack, but also will help you to wash off colors easily, later on.

Take off all jewellery, especially the fragile and precious ones.

Women should avoid transparent, clingy clothes, low cut t-shirts.

While washing off the color from your face, use lukewarm water and keep your eyes and lips tightly closed

Yellow is the colour of Spring, so yellow is a forever favourite in Holi.

White Kurta Payjamas for men and cotton kurtas for women are hot pick.

Its better to wear light jewellery and put on waterproof natural makeup.

Do not make use of harmful colors for Holi. This will not only prove harmful to your playmates, but also spoil your Holi. Make use of herbal colors for the festival.

Choose herbal colors that are easily available in the market, for Holi. You may also make herbal colors at home. For instance, red sandalwood powder can be used to make red color; henna powder can be put in best use to derive the bright green color, while yellow color can be made by making use of turmeric powder.

Mehendi/henna powder mixed with equal quantity of gram flour or green gram flour. Buy only pure mehendi and avoid one mixed with amla which is meant for colouring hair. Dry mehendi will not leave harmful colour on your face and can be easily washed off, which is another advantage.

To make your wet colour: mix two teaspoons of mehendi in one litre of water. Stir nicely. You can also make a lovely green colour using spinach, coriander, palak, mint and tomato leaves etc. by dipping them in water and getting the glorious green they have.

Yellow

Two teaspoons of turmeric to mix with double quantity of gram flour or besan which we use for making pakodas. You can also use atta, maida, rice flour or arrow root, groundnut powder,
Marigold can also be used as another safe and cheap colour maker. Yellow chrysanthemums too are friendly flowers to use. Dry the petals of these flowers in shade to acquire a fine powder. Mix them with the besan etc. to make your colour.
Can also grind the dried up rind of the Bael fruit to make a shimmering yellow colour.

For wet yellow colour, add one teaspoon of haldi to two litres of water and stir thoroughly. You can even boil it to strengthen the colour and then dilute it. Or you can soak marigold flowers in water or the Cassia fistula. Boil and leave overnight to get your colou

Red

Use red sandalwood powder which is also good for your skin. Use this safer holi paint than the red gulal.
Use the gorgeous red hibiscus flowers by drying them in the shade. Then powder them to make a stunning red colour. Add flour to make it thicker. Annato or Sinduria has a water chestnut shaped fruit which will give you seeds with a lovely post box red colour. You can make dry and wet colours with it.
Remember that the red hibiscus flowers soaked in water overnight will give you a red which also has medicinal value.

For wet colour put two teaspoons of red sandalwood powder in a litre of water and boil & dilute to use. Peels of red pomegranate boiled in water will also give you a red colour. If you want an orange and red shade, mix a pinch of chuna/lime powder (eaten with paan) with two spoons of haldi and a few drops of water. But dilute it with ten litres of water before using it.

Holi celebration at the Mandir. Colours will be provided by Mandir.

As with other Hindu festivals, the date of Holi changes every year. This year it is: 13th March.

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Why not come in for a guided tour to look around the Temple and learn about many Hindu Gods/Deities? The Panditji (our priest) will be glad to show you around during the opening hours. Students are very welcome. The temple is open for school visits on weekdays between by prior appointment.